Hello, friends, it's been a while! March is high season here and life is busy. We've had visitors (our daughter and son-in-law and then my sister and brother-in-law), spent lots of time with friends, and attended several local events. We've seen plenty of sunsets, plus a few sunrises, visited a couple of new wildlife refuges and gardens... and suddenly it's been three weeks since my last post!
I'm still reading, but not quite as much. It looks like I'll only finish three books this month, but at least I'm keeping up with the chapter-a-day War and Peace reading project.
Recent reading//
The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman
This day-in-the-life story features Aunt Orsa's upscale restaurant, a dinner reservation which includes author John Grisham, and 22 stolen ribeye steaks. Kauffman moves us through "Grisham Day" from theft discovery, to staff interrogations, and eventual resolution with chapters told from alternating perspectives - the chef, the hostess, servers, the owner, etc. We learn character backstories, relationships, workplace dynamics, and witness the (often hilarious) chaos of the evening dinner service. I've read five of Kauffman's six novels and she has become a favorite. I still think Chorus is her best novel, but this was a satisfying read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volume 7 by Beth Brower
Have I mentioned lately how much I love these characters? This Victorian-era soap opera is wildly clever and entertaining, and this may be my favorite volume yet. I'm reading one book every month with a small group from Modern Mrs. Darcy. We end in April with Volume 8 .... and then anxiously await volume 9. Hopefully later this year.🤞
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
A family drama is an easy sell for me, and the addition of local flavor makes it irresistible. This one opens in 1977 Rochester, NY - literally an hour down the road from my high school and in my 'era'! It begins with two families, a neighborhood scandal, the fallout, and immediate repercussions. Around the halfway mark, the story jumps ahead twenty years and we see how things continue to shake out for everyone involved. I was delighted by the mention of a now-defunct local department store (Sibley's, anyone?), a grocery chain reminiscent of Wegmans, familiar locales, and foods like beef on weck! This was a quick, fun read for me. And, in case you're wondering, "lake effect" refers to the heavy snow which falls on downwind shores when dry air passes over the warmer, unfrozen water of the Great Lakes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Current reading//
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
I just started this yesterday as a read/listen combination and, at 670 pages, I expect it to take some time.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
My year-long slow read with Footnotes & Tangents continues. We're at the 30% mark now and it's better than I was expecting!
In the kitchen//
I've talked about the progress our island has made since Hurricane Ian in 2022 and, while the recovery is by no means complete, there has been a dramatic improvement compared to last year. One of the little things that's made a big difference to me is the return of a small fresh seafood stand just over the causeway in Fort Myers. I've been cooking fish two or three times a week all winter!
A couple of weeks ago I came across this Slow Cooker Korean Beef recipe from Skinnytaste and, though I could not tell you the last time I prepared beef in the crockpot, this flavor profile sounded particularly appealing. It calls for a 2 lb chuck roast, trimmed and cubed, then browned before adding to the slow cooker. That's fussier than any of my usual crockpot recipes, but turned out to be worth it. The meat was so tender and everyone loved the Korean flavor - a keeper!
The week ahead//
Compared to the past few weeks, this week is looking pretty quiet... even though Sunday and is both Easter and our daughter's birthday. It should be fairly low-key since it'll be just the three of us.
How was your week? What have you been reading?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
I haven't read much this month as I've been traveling a lot.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for recommending The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. I've only heard the first volume. I wonder if they are only available as audiobooks.
Deb - The Emma M. Lion books are available in paperback and kindle format. My library offers all the audio editions via hoopla, but I ended up buying the set in paperback, too.
DeleteIt's good to see you post and hear about what is going on. I needed a boost and your posts always cheer me. Sending you an email soon.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your daughter!
Tina - Between your allergies and the stitches, no wonder you need a boost! I hope you're healing and feeling better today. Sent you an email :)
DeleteGood morning, JoAnn! I usually read all the news and various subscriptions first thing in the morning, but I spotted your post and decided to start my Sunday by catching up with you instead. Lovely photo of the sun over the water.
ReplyDeleteI had a feeling you'd been busy with visitors these past few weeks. I'm glad the weather has been good for that.
I have yet to read anything by Rebecca Kauffman, and while The Reservation sounds good, I may start with Chorus. It's been on my list for a while now.
My mom has recently finished Vol. 6 of the Emma M. Lion books. They are all lined up on my top shelf, ready to read once she has passed the entire series along to me. I wonder if I'll read them all back-to-back, or take a break halfway through.
I couldn't get through The Nest (on audio), but Lake Effect appeals to me, so maybe I'll try it later this summer.
I'm so glad recovery from the hurricane continues and that you have access to fresh fish. It's easy to get spoiled living on the coast with those perks, isn't it? We have such great places to get fresh fish, even down at the docks in Newport. There's a fishing boat that sells crab, lingcod, black cod, etc. right on the dock. Doesn't get much fresher than that!
Yours is the second Korean beef recipe I've seen this week. Guess that's the universe's way of telling me to give it a try. And, I just bought a chuck roast, so there you go!
I've had a good month of reading with some great books, but also some that have been good, but not great. Still reading The Winds of War (very slowly), and started The Song of Achilles a few nights ago (finally!). My mom started PT for her hip last week and is doing pretty well. Much happier to be home than in the rehab facility. We'll have another quiet month in April and then our visitor season begins.
Good to hear from you, JoAnn. Take care and have a wonderful week.
Les - We have a similar morning routine - news, subscriptions, then the fun stuff :) There is an outside chance my sister may come back for a long weekend later in the month. We're trying to convince them that this actually a good time to buy in SWFL... between so many people moving out after the hurricanes and now Canadians are selling their winter places because of all the immigration nonsense, the market is flooded with possibilities. If not, we are done for the season.
DeleteYou're in for a treat when you get to Emma Lion. The first two books mostly set the scene, then they get better and better. Spacing them out one per month between heavier reads has worked well for me. I wonder what your mom thought of the end of volume 6... there was an unexpected development! Glad to hear she is doing well with PT.
Hope the Korean beef is a hit for you, too. I really like her recipes and have several of her cookbooks... some here and some in CT, but it seems I never have the one I'm looking for!
Have a good week!
Les - Also meant to say that The Reservation probably isn't the best place to start with Rebecca Kauffman. You've got the right idea with Chorus!
DeleteJoAnn, happy to see an update from you! I remember you sharing that you'd be having a bunch of visitors and glad you enjoyed all who came. Plus, it sounds like you guys have been out and about doing all kind of stuff. My reading has been pretty slow too. We went on a trip out to Arizona and had a great time. I'm going to try to write an update this week - maybe on April Fool's Day - ha! Lake Effect sounds interesting and I've experienced recognizing local things while reading a book set in our area. I always love that. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKay - Yes, we are pretty much done with visitors for the season so April will be MY vacation month, lol! Glad you had a good time in Arizona, what a great time of year to be there. I always enjoy reading books with local flavor, especially if I'm familiar with the places. It's been a while since I had that experience, so appreciated Lake Effect even more. I'll keep an eye out for your post.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful time catching up with loved ones! I also love the Emma Lion books! The 9th one is supposed to release this year, she still hasn't said when though. I hope you have a great week, enjoy the slower pace.
ReplyDeleteCindy - I'm hoping Beth Brower makes an announcement about volume 9 soon. I seem to be delaying volume 8 so I don't have to wait as long!
DeleteYou are reading/working on some fantastic books. Good for you. Love the sunrise/sunset (which is it?)
ReplyDeleteMy Sunday Salon: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/03/sunday-salon-no-kings.html
Anne - That photo is a sunset. Between Sonia & Sonny and W&P, it will probably be a while before I finish another book!
DeleteI am more than half done with the first Emma Lion journal and absolutely loving it. So glad you've been raving about this series--I requested it from my library, and it was on hold for the longest time (I think they didn't have it but it was on order) and I am hoping they spring for the rest of the series.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of The Reservation--promises to be fun and interesting.
It seems the most common reaction to reading W&P for the first time is, as you said, better than expected!
Lake Effect also appeals.
Hope you have a terrific April and glad to hear that some normalcy is returning to your patch of FL.
JaneGS - I'm so glad you're enjoying Emma Lion! I wasn't really sold after the first book, but was encouraged to give books 2 and 3 a chance. They're short, so wasn't a huge commitment. So glad I stuck with it!
DeleteThe Reservation was a fun read, but not quite up to the caliber of her other books.If you've worked in restaurants, it's probably even more enjoyable.
Hope spring is arriving in your area. I'm sure you're ready to back to your garden!
Time with family and friends is precious.That Korean Beef recipe sounds delicious - I need to try it too. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteJodie - It's funny, but I always say we see more of our friends and family when we're in Florida! Everyone needs a break from the northeast this time of year.
DeleteHow fun to read a book set in a place you know so well! It's great to know the stores, the streets, the feeling while reading a book. Have a wonderful April!
ReplyDeleteHelen - Reading a book where you know the location so well is the best! It hasn't happened in a while for me, so that made Lake Effect even more fun.
DeleteThat recipe looks great, I'm going to try it! I have an Instant Pot, so I can brown and then slow cook in the same pan. Probably the most thought-provoking book I read recently is Good People by Patmeena Sabit. It's not a perfect book, but really interesting. It'd make a good book club selection.
ReplyDeleteAmy - Preparing the Korean beef was the first time I've ever wished for an Instant Pot... but the last thing I need is another small kitchen appliance! I'm looking forward to Good People and have it on hold at the library. I've seen raves about the audio production, too, so will probably make it a read/listen combo when I get there.
DeleteKorean Beef is one of our go-to comfort meals!
ReplyDeleteI love reading books that are set somewhere I know and love.
Erin - I've had Korean beef in restaurants and made a ground beef variation at home, but this recipe was even better! Can't wait to make it again.
Delete